Agroaldea
The prototype has been developed within the framework of the project "Biogreen: Advanced model of production in a greenhouse".
The first greenhouse in the world with a double interchangeable cover has seen the light in Andalusia, specifically in the Training Institute and agricultural research facilities (IFAPA) It has in the Almería town of La Mojonera.
To date, None of the attempts carried out in different places in the world to develop a mechanism of tradable greenhouse cover had borne fruit, with the exception of a patent of the year 90 developed by IRTA, that he had not have commercial impact.
Some models based on retractable roofs are currently marketed in North America, with visible differences of concept regarding the Andalusian design.
[quote]This prototype has been developed by the almerian company Gocarsa/NGS, IFAPA and IRTA, in the framework of the project "Biogreen: Advanced model of production in a greenhouse". [/quote]
The heart of double interchangeable cover greenhouse developed Biogreen, It is an innovative and ingenious system of curl, similar to which we can observe in automatic awnings, that is a system of counterweights to help increase their effectiveness.
All of this, installed on the shortest possible and without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the structure with regard to a greenhouse that does not have installed this system.
"One of the biggest challenges has been to make the mechanism as simple as possible to make it affordable to the majority of the farmers", so it has been necessary to progressively simplify the initial design which in turn patented the IRTA and dispense with costly components", explains Esteban José Baeza, the researcher of IFAPA has coordinated the project. "Finally, We have managed to combine simplicity and efficiency in its greatest exponent", Adds satisfied.
Operating the system is comfortable and easy. From a console, just turn the appropriate button so the electric motor starts and "the miracle happen". In a few seconds, the tarp will have disappeared and have been replaced by another cover of mesh. Or vice versa, always according to production needs, the chosen crop and weather conditions
One of the most important advantages of this new prototype is that it serves to cover multiple materials. "The mechanism allows alternate between two different materials, whatever", Add Esteban José Baeza, who assures also that the installation can be performed in any type of industrial greenhouse.
About to conclude trials in the first phase without culture and put to the mechanism, the collected data are promising.
[quote]The new greenhouse has a huge potential to be used in any area of the world's agricultural production, and in any type of crop.[/quote]
It allows, for the first time, have the advantages of two different culture environments in the same greenhouse, something unthinkable to date. This can lead to a series of new applications cascade that open up new possibilities of production, whatever the level of pressure of the pests in each area.
"This mechanism is ideal, for example, to place mesh of shading in production of fruit trees, flowers and ornamentals. At the same time, It is very suitable for agriculture in the tropics, where they just need a plastic cover during periods of rain", Adds the Coordinator of the research project, fully convinced that the enormous versatility of this new greenhouse, It promises great business opportunities for the conglomerate of companies involved in this project.
Biogreen also offers targeted in areas with moisture problems. The possibility of removing the plastic cover and replace it with another mesh after a day of heavy rain will facilitate inside the greenhouse is vented in record time.
"With this, We contribute to eliminate a major problem of many farmers, Since the mechanism we have developed allows to quickly evacuate all of the accumulated moisture and, at the same time, to avoid the appearance of diseases caused by poor ventilation and persistent humidity", explains Esteban José Baeza.
The Gocarsa company is behind the innovative mechanism of curl, While premium-Ram is responsible for implementation of the automated control of climate and close collaboration of the team of automatic irrigation, Robotics and Mechatronics from the University of Almeria (UAL).
The bulk of the tests being conducted on the experimental farm of the IFAPA Center of La Mojonera, with the collaboration of other groups of work as the Las Palmerillas Experimental Station of Cajamar, the Institute for research and food technology (IRTA) of Catalonia, and the Ciesol. The project was co-financed by the Agency IDEA and the technological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA).
In the project Biogreen has reserved a part of the greenhouse for work on the design of a semi-enclosed structure of culture, with an active air conditioning system.
It tries to find a suitable greenhouse model to produce in arid climates, able to generate comfortable conditions for the development of the plants inside, Although outside prevails a stifling heat above 50 ° C.
Difference plastic/mesh.
Withstand the rigors of the most extreme arid climates on the planet will be possible thanks to a new water by absorption cooling system. Its operation is based on a new cooling machine with water previously heated to 90 ° with energy from a solar field and with the support of a biomass boiler, to ensure stability in energy supply throughout the year.
"With this structure of active air conditioning, it is not necessary to open windows and completely independent of the outside conditions are created.", According to researcher IFAPA.
Which is possibly destined to be one of the greenhouses to grow in climates more corners of the world, It has the technological support of the CIAT company (Montilla, Cordoba), responsible for designing the equipment needed to cool the water and at the same time, cooling / dehumidifying greenhouse air, In addition to heat it in the winter if necessary.
Biogreen project managers are now immersed in the monitoring and collection of data from the first trials with crop. To start, you have chosen a sowing of cucumber in hydroponics that soon will shed the first conclusions about their behavior.